Folding lunch-box.



J. P. LYONS.

FOLDING LUNCH BOX. APPLICATION FILED DEO.13, 1912.

Patented June 23, 1914.

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J. F. .LYONS.

FOLDING LUNCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.13, 1912.

1,101,1 35'. Patented June 23,1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

[MW-155555 Invsmar' J. P. LYONS- FOLDING LUNCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, 1912.

Patented June 23, 1911 a sHBETsHEEET 3.

ccLqMBu PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINUTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT; FRANK S. NEAL, 0F PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT,ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID CLAYTON, DECEASED.

FOLDING LUNCH-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. LYoNs, a citizen of the United States,residing at'New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Lunch-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n folding lunch boxes and theobjects of my improvement are simplicity and economy in construction andconvenience and efficiency in use.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank fromwhich my folding lunch box is made. Fig. 2 is a front view of the box inexpanded condition and on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is an end view ofthe same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line :20 w of Fig. 2. Fig. 5is a similar view on the line y y of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an end view fromthe opposite end to that shown in Fig. 3, in part broken out, the coverbeing partially opened and the bottom with the inner end pieces foldedthereon, tilted slightly upward. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional viewshowing the box in collapsed condition on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is asectional View on the line e 2 of Fig. 3, on the same scale as said Fig.3. Fig. 9 is a reverse view of the section shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is aside elevation of my box in partly collapsed condition.

A is the blank from which my folding lunch box is made and comprises anelongated, rectangular main body part B which Is divided by cross wisescore lines 19 into a series of elements in longitudinal alinement whichconstitute the outside walls of my box and a securing flap 20 at one endand consisting of the said flap 20 at one end, the left end wall 21 atthe other end and intermediate thereto the back wall 23, right end wall24, and front wall 25. The said end walls 21 and 24 are providedcentrally with cross wise score lines 28 and which facilitate foldinginwardly the said side walls. Rivet holes 35 are provided in the saidfront wall 25 for receiving rivets or other means for securing a clasp Esuitable for fastening the cover to be described. The said flap 20 andleft end wall 21 are Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 13, 1912.

Patented June 23, 1914. Serial No. 736,528.

provided with rivet holes 22, shown as two in number in each, and whichare suitable for receiving rivets, respectively an upper rivet C and alower rivet D for securing the said flap and end wall. A rivet hole 22is also provided in the back half 46 of the said right end wall 24 andnear the lower end thereof. Integral with the top edge 26 of the saidback wall 23 is the cover G, a score line along the said top edge 26serving to determine the line on which the said cover will hinge inswinging back and forth relatively to the said back wall 23. Reinotefrom the said edge 26 the said cover is provided with an end flap 29,which hinges along the score line 30. End flaps 31, hinged along scorelines 32 are provided along the ends of the said cover G, and which mayhave the corners 33 cut away. The said end flap 29 is provided with ahole 34 for an eye F, suitable for receiving the hook member 36 of thesaid clasp E. The said back wall 23 is provided along the lower edge 37with a score line dividing off from the same a bottom reinforcing andsupporting strip H, which has a strip body portion 38 of essentially thesame length as the said back wall 23 and is preferably as shown of aboutone-half or less than one-half the width of the said bottom of the boxtobe described, and is provided at the ends with strip and flaps,respectively the left end flap 39 and the right end flap 40, the samebeing limited by end score lines 47. Diagonal score lines 41 extendingfrom the inner end corners 42 of the said strip H and across the same atan angle of about 45 degrees facilitate bending and folding the saidstrip H in collapsing my box. Rivet holes 22 are provided in the saidstrip end flaps 39 and 40, the rivet holes 22 in the left end flap 39registering in the folded condition of the blank with the hole 22 in thesaid flap 20 and left end wall 21 and the lower rivet hole 22 in thesaid right flap 46 registering with the rivet hole 22 in the said rightend wall 24 andsuitable for receiving a rivet I. Integral with thebottom edge of the said front wall 25 and marked off from the same by ascore line 48 is the bottom proper 49 constituting the central part ofthe bottom and end strip J, and having at each end and hinged to thesaid bottom proper 49 along cross-wise score lines 50 the left and rightinner end and strap pieces, 51 and 52 respectively. The said innerpieces 51 and 52 are of such length that the top edges 54 and 64 of thesame in the folded condition will be flush with the edge of the boxgenerally so that in the expanded condition and with the cover closedthe said top edges will be in contact with the under side of the saidcover G. As shown in the blank A, the said right hand flap 40 of thebottom supporting strip H extends in the direction of the said bottomproper J beyond the left hand edge 54 of the said right hand inner endpiece 52.

A pair of straps K have one end each secured by a rivet M to the outerside of one of the inner end pieces 51 and 52 and their other endsjoined by a buckle L, the point of attachment 55 of the same being suchas to admit the said cover flap 31 between the said strap K and the saidend pieces 51 and 52 in the closed position and so that the lower edgeof the said flap will be adjacent the said rivets M. In folding the saidblank A to form my box the said inner end pieces 51 and 52 are foldedover inwardly against the said bottom proper 49 or at an angle of 90degrees thereto and then the said main body B is bent upward along thescore line 48 at right angles to the said bottom proper 49. Then thesaid main body part B is folded around the said bottom proper 49, beingbent on the corner score lines 19 and with the end flap 20 overlappingthe left end wall 21. The supporting strip H is then bent along thescore line 37 and the end flaps 39 and 40 thereof bent into position tobe engaged by the said rivets D and I respectively, and secured by thesaid rivets, and the said rivet C inserted in the said upper rivet holes22. The bottom proper 49 is then brought to rest on the bottom support Hand the end pieces 51 and 52 opened against the end walls 21 and 24,thus completing the body of the box ready to receive material to becontained therein.

After the box is filled the cover is closed over the top, the side flaps31 tucked in the sides, and the cover resting on the top edges of thesaid end pieces, the front flap 29 being brought against the front wall25 and secured by the clasp or fastener E, and the straps K have theirfree ends secured by the buckle L. Vt hen arranged as described andlifted and supported by the said straps K the load on the bottom proper49 is generally supported by the said inner end pieces 51 and 52,secured to the said straps. W'hen, however, the box is lifted by theside walls, as may be convenient in the process of filling, the bottomproper 49 is supported in part by the said bottom supporting strip Hwhich extends along the otherwise free and unsupported back end 56 ofthe same. The

front end of the said bottom proper 49 is supported by the said frontwall 25, being integral therewith. The said rivet D it will be notedsecures together three thicknesses of material consistingvof the flap20, end wall 21 and flap 39.

In collapsing my box, the cover G is bent backward against the outsideof the back wall 23, the side flaps 31 and end flap 29 turned inward;the inner end pieces 51 and 52 are folded over the bottom proper 49, andthe said bottom folded upward against the front Wall 25, access to thesaid bottom being,obtained through the opening 57 between the front edge58 of the said bottom supporting strip H and the front bottom edge 48,and then the body of the box is collapsed by a bellows-like folding ofthe end walls 21 and 24 and a similar folding of the said bottomsupporting strip H along the said angular score lines 41. Accordingly mybox has the bottom positively supported when in use, either by the endpieces or by the bottom supporting strip in coiiperation with the frontwall; and the bottom supporting and reinforcing means is collapsible;and for collapsing the bottom is accessible from the outside; and my boxis made from a single piece blank; and is held together positively bythree rivets; and furthermore, the box as described cannot be shaped orformed so as to be in condition to receive or be filled with material orsupplies without having the parts arranged as described and in a propermanner for use.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding lunch box comprising end walls, a front wall, and a rearwall, the said walls being permanently connected together, the said endwalls being collapsible along the middle portion, a bottom hinged by thefront edge to the front wall and having the edge adjacent the said rearwall free, supporting means for the said free edge positioned be low thesame in the open position and permanently connected to the said endwalls, and having diagonal creases near the ends and the connectingmeans for so connecting the said supporting means and the end wallsbeing so positioned relatively to the said end Walls as to permit thesaid supporting means to be collapsed simultaneously with the said endwalls.

2. A folding lunch box formed of one sheet of material and havinglateral walls and a bottom hinged by one edge to the front wall, andinner end pieces hinged to the said bottom, lifting straps secured tothe said inner end pieces and thereby supporting said bottom when alifting strain is applied to the said straps, means for sup porting thefree edge of the said bottom independent of the said straps comprising astrip extending underneath the said free edge and secured to the endwalls by securing means positioned on the said end Walls so as to permitthe said box to be collapsed and expanded.

3. A folding lunch box formed of one sheet of material and havinglateral Walls and a bottom hinged by the front edge to the front Wall,means for supporting the free edge of the said bottom comprising a stripextending below said bottom and secured to the end Walls, the said stripseparated from 10 the said front edge by a space permitting of access tothe said bottom for the purpose of swinging the same away from the saidstrip in collapsing the box.

JOHN F. LYONS. Witnesses:

MAE LYONS, SHEFFIELD H. CLARKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

